Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1954 that declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. The case was brought by 13 parents on behalf of their children, including Oliver Brown, against the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. The plaintiffs argued that the segregation of schools violated the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, ruled that "separate but equal" educational facilities were inherently unequal and deprived Black children of equal protection under the law. This decision overturned the infamous 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson, which had established the "separate but equal" doctrine.

The Brown v. Board of Education decision was a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement and sparked a series of legal challenges to segregation in various aspects of American life. It laid the groundwork for desegregating schools and other public institutions, leading to greater equality and opportunities for Black Americans. However, the decision also faced resistance and implementation challenges in many parts of the country.